Crumpled Duster Sponge

Axinella damicornis

The Crumpled Duster Sponge, belonging to the family Axinellidae, is a marine sponge commonly found in the Mediterranean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean. It is typically yellow to orange in color and can grow up to 10 cm in height. Its structure is characterized by flattened branches that are often interconnected, resembling the antlers of a deer. This unique morphology makes it distinguishable from other sponge species. This sponge thrives in subtropical environments, often inhabiting muddy and rocky substrates. It is commonly found at depths starting from 15 meters and can extend to much greater depths, although most occurrences are at shallower depths of up to 60 meters. Divers may encounter it in underwater caves and beneath rock overhangs, where it sometimes appears encrusted with anemones that can obscure its appearance at first glance. As a member of the class Demospongiae, the Crumpled Duster Sponge is hermaphroditic, with a life cycle that includes a free-swimming parenchymella larva stage before settling on a substrate. Its conservation status has not been evaluated by the IUCN, and there are no known threats to humans from this species.